The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday said it was not aware of the threat to national security posed by allocation of 2G spectrum to some telecom firms which subsequently offloaded their shares to global firms with links to Pakistan, an issue raised by Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy.
“We (CBI) are not aware of the details of national security aspect as raised by Swamy in his application as a copy of the complaint by him is not available with us,” CBI told Special Judge Pradeep Chaddah adding it had been probing the 2G spectrum allocation scam as per the case registered by it.
CBI’s plea came despite Judge Chaddah, while issuing a notice to the agency on February 5 and seeking its detailed status report on the 2G probe, had specifically asked the agency if its investigation also covered the national security aspect as raised by Mr. Swamy.
Mr. Swamy, in his petition filed before the court, had said Swam Telecom and Unitech Wireless, which were allotted licensees, had sold their major shares to two foreign companies Etisalat DB and Telenor, which is “a major threat” to national security.
“The first two licensees, Swan Telecom and Unitech Wireless, soon after sold their controlling shares to Etisalat DB and Telenor respectively. The national security risk from these companies are highlighted by the Union Home Ministry as their connections go right into Pakistan,” Mr. Swamy had alleged.
During the hearing, Mr. Swamy also sought the court’s direction to CBI to ask the Union Home Ministry, Research and Analysis Wing and other intelligence agencies to find out the bearings of 2G spectrum allocation scam on national security.
The court, however, asked CBI to find out the national security concern as raised by Mr. Swamy.
“It is your (CBI) work to find out what national security risk is connected with the 2G spectrum allocation,” the judge said.
Following CBI’s plea that it did not have the copy of Mr. Swamy’s complaint, the Janata Party chief promptly handed over the copy to the agency with additional offer to sit with them to discuss various issues.
Mr. Swamy said the Home Ministry, in its report, had said Etisalat should not be allowed to come to India.
“Home Ministry report says that Etisalat should not come to India but it has been allowed. How can the Telecom Ministry allow it“? he asked.
